Clothesline holder



July 12,1927. 1,635,850

C. L. KUBISTA` CLOTHESLINE HOLDER July 121927,

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Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED` STATES terasse CHARLIE L. KUBISTA, OF SLEEPY EYE, MINNESOTA.

CLOTHESLINE HOLDER.

Application filed December 26, 1922. Serial No. 608,983.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes-line holders such as are commonly used to support a clothes-line for the purpose of hanging clothes, etc., thereon, and relates more particularly to suchholders adapted to contain and conceal the line therein when not in use.

The novel clothes-line holder illustrated in the accompanying drawings is designed with a hollow standard ory post which may be anchored in any suitable manner,` such as by sinking in the ground. When the clothesline is not inuse it will be concealed within the hollow standard in such a manner as to be positively protected against dust and weather, thus eliminating the usual objection of having to putaup and take down the line after each washing. y 4

Means are also provided wherebythe line may be readily and quickly withdrawn from the holder and secured to any suitable means such as the cross-arm of an ordinary clothes pole. The line is also preferably constructed 1n one piece being retained in the hollow standard by means of a suitable Weight and a plurality of grooved pulleys. The ends of the line are preferably secured tomcach other adjacent a cover plate orhand-grip vclosing the opening in the standard through which theline is drawn. The line then passes over the pulleys, back to the cover plate and again back to the pulleys thereby providing means for equalizing the tension of thel line sections when withdrawn from the standard. The line may be used eitheras a single line or it may be arranged in such a manner as to provide a plurality of lines This holder is also provided with means .for spreading the line sections. and also-with means for preventing the line from becoming loose or slack when carrying heavy articles, such as carpets, clothing, etc. i

Another important feature of this novel clothes line holder resides in its simple and inexpensive construction, thus providing a holder which may be manufactured ata minimum cost.v l l The object therefore of this invention is to provide an improved clothes-line holder.

Other objects of the invention Willmore fully appear from the following detailed description yand the accompanying drawings pointed out 4in the annexed.

and will be claims.

In the drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the objects of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow. y

In the drawings: 4

Figure'l is a vertical sectional view of a clothes-line holder showing the invention applied thereto, and Valso showing the line concealed within the post;

FigureQ. is a view in front elevation of the upper end of the holder, showing the line partially withdrawn therefrom;

i Figure 3 irregular line 3-3 of Figure l ;v

.Figure 4f is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the upper grooved drum or pulley in position;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 5- 5 of Figure l, showingthe vgrooved pulleys provided in the upper end of the weight;

` Figure 6V is a detail view of the top of the post,'sl'1'owing the manner of mounting the upper grooved pulley or drum in the cap;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of threading the line upon the pulleys Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail view of the upper end of the post with the cap removed.

In the selected embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a clothesline holder comprising a hollow post l5 preferably polygonal in Across-section and having a bottom plate 1G and top cap 17.V The bottom plate 16 may be secured to the post by any suitable means whereby a waterproof joint may be provided between the wall of the post and `the upturne-d flange 18 of the plate, thus preventing water and moisture from entering lthe 'post from the bottom.

rThe clothessline is adapted normally to be held in yieldably retracted position within the post wherein yit is yoperatively passed about a plurality of pulleys. Two sets of pulleys are provided, the upper being held about a relatively fixed axis while the lower set is movably carried b the line sections in suspended. position. lf lille the upper vset is a cross-sectional view on the may consist of a plurality or separate pulleys, it is preferred to employ a single upper pulley with several linegroov-es. Referring to Figure 1 it will be noted that a groei/red drum or pulley 19 is provided' at the upper end or' the post. This pulley is mounted upon a suitable rod or rivet 21, preferably secured to the depending li'angeY 22 ot the top cap 17. (Figure.) Opposed vertical slots 28 are provided at the upper end of thepost adapted to receive the rod 21 when the cap is placed thereon. y

A `suitable opening 24 lis also provided at the upper end) ofV the post adjacent the lower edge of the ila'nge 22v of the cover `t-liro'iigh which the line passes yvhen Withdrawn from the holder, as sl'iown in Figure 2'. This opening is provided with inyvardly projecting upper and lower horizontalilanges 25 and 2 6 adapted to haye vsuitable guide pins 27 secured thereto.

(Figures: 1 and These pins function in separating ,the outer line sections as they pass out and in through the opening 24. A horizontal rod 28 is l mounted at the upper end ef the hollen* post 15 adjacent the loriier Harige 26 and is arranged at substantially right: langles vwith reference tothe openings 2 4, rThis rod functions `as a means for separating the center line, sections.

Means are provided lor spreading the lines, when desired.

An Aarched metallic spreader' trame 29 is pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the pest 15 as by means of a suitable bolt 31. This bolt passes transverselythrough the post slightly vtoV one side of its vertical axis and substantially in alinement ivith the center of the opening 24, so that it alsoV may function' as a means for guiding the line sections through the opening lWhen retracted from the post. The frame' 29 is provided With opposed outwardly oiteiiding arms 32 (Figure 2) which are provided with suitable notches 33 adapted to receive the line sections (as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and when it isdesired to spread the lines. A suitable arched cross member 34 haseach end securedto the trarne adjacent the arm 32,. to provide a supI'aoiti'ng` means betweenl the twoside members of the frame. Thenpthis piv'otped'spreader is in lineengaging operative position,- itn'ot only p'reyents tilting of the spaced iyhenunequally loaded.,A but also.I may rock more' or less wvitli the lilies, and iv'hennthe out line-ends are released, the sp ader will vaut'ou iatically drop sokthat the sections may be freed rlnthe angledntchs.

y Means'lare lal'so `provided will be automatically asisooii'lsth" kasteel! 1rth pr *lily eff sterili@ lie t@ the'. posit the @heinrich iieig'lit such as receptacle 35,

'see' Figure having a bottom plate 3G, and adapted lfor reciprocal movement Within the post 15. This receptacle is preferably filled with a suitable ballast of sufficient Weight to return the line to the post when released, and

at the same timev to permit the user readily and quickly to Withdraw the line therefrom when it is desired to use it.

The clotlies-line is carried by a system or pulleys ivithin the post. or grooved pulleys 37, 38 and 39 are rotatably mounted upon a suitable rod 41 having its ends'secured to the walls of the Weight receptacle adjacent its upper eddie. A guard 42 is secured to the receptacle hy upwardly extending kends 43 interposed betvveon the endsk or the pulleys 3f( and 39 and the Walls of the receptacle 35. These upiff'aifdly eitending ends are apertured to receive the rod 41.

5, that thel upper terminal edges ot the ends 43 are preferably bent out- Wardlynat substantially right angles to' the ends 43' and adapted to tit over the upper edge of the receptacle 35, thereby providing means forA preventing the guard 42 from changing its relative position With reference to thel rod 41. l

n, The opening 24 of the post is adapted to be' closed by means of a cover plate 4G so that dust, dirt and the elements may be ex clude-d from thevhollotv post when the line is in retracted inoperative position. Preterably a; ysinglel clothes-line 44 is used and. the twvoendsv are adapted to be tied together preferably after passing through the oppositely spaced eyes 45 and 4T projecting from the' inner face of the coverplate ivhile an intermediate and similarly projecting eye 4S may' have an intermediate portion of the line slidably passed therethrough. A ring 49 projects from the outer tace of the coverplate and presents means by which the user may Withdraw the plate and line from the post.4 When the coverplate is Withdrawn, the line is also Withdrawn and it is so threaded or passed about the pulley system that four line sections are presented.

The method of threading the line upon the loiyer pulleys and the upper pulley 19 may be explained with reference to Figures 2 7 and, From lthe loop 45 the line 44 passes rearwardly through the post-opening 24j', over bolt Slbetween one of the vertieail guide pins 27 and the vall of the post, (Figure 2) thence downwardly to the pulley 39and rearwardly Wit-hin its groove 58 and thece upwardly to the groove 59 of the pulley Coming forwardly in this groove the' lline passesdovnivardly to the groove 6l .of the pulley 38 and rearwardly therein ndppVally, over vthe front side' of the ipperply 19 in the groove 62, thence rearwardly and downwardly again to thel pul- The lower group 'i means of 5* {'tlSO beV noted, :s:

vIt passes rearwardly ley 39 and forwardly in its other groove 63 and again upwardly over the rod 31, be- -ween the guide pins 27, and out through the opening' 24 to the eye 48 in the coverplate 46.

The line` then continues through the eye 48, baelr through the opening 24 between the guide pins 27, and over the rod 31. From there it extends downwardly and is received in the groove 64 of the pulley 37. around this [pulley groove, thence upwardly and forwardly in the groove 65 provided in the pulley 19 and then downwardly to the groove 66 in the pulley 38, entering this groove also from the baclr side. From the groove 66 the line passes to the groove 67 inthe upper pulley, around this pulley and down the back side thereof to the groove 68 provided in the pulley 37. The line enters this groove from the back side of the pulley 37 then extends upwardly and over the rod 31, between one of the guide pins 27 and the wall of the post, and is terminally passed through the eye 47 carried by the coverplate 46 and Secured to the other end.

The clothesline, when tautly drawn outwardly, will automatically adjust itself upon the pulleys so that the various line sections will have substantially equal tension. This equalizing action is effected by securing the two ends of the line together and slidably mounting the line in the eyes 45 and 47 of the eoverplate by permitting the intermediate line portion freely to slide in the eye 48, and by permitting the central doublegrooved lower pulley 38 to revolve independently of the other two lower pulleys. lt may be noted that the middle pulley 38 does not normally revolve during withdrawal or retraction of the line but does revolve when uneven line tensions are being automatically equalized.

Having thus described my'invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

l.. A clothes-line holder including a post having an aperture, means carried by said post and adapted to have the line passed thereabout to permit withdrawal and eX- tension of the line through said aperture to object-supporting position, tension means normally to hold the line in retracted inoperative position, a detachable cover for said aperture adapted to have one portion of the line secured thereto, and. means 'on said cover slidably to engage another portion of the line whereby upon withdrawal of the cover a plurality of line sections are presented for support of objects.

2. A clothes-line holder including a post,

pulleys carried by said post and adapted to have the line passed thereabout to permit withdrawal and extension of the line to objeet-supporting position, tension means norpulleys carried y by the mally to hold the line in retracted inoperative position, a handle member adaptedl to have one portion of the line secured thereto, means on said handle slid-ably to engage another portion of the line whereby upon withdrawal of the handle a plurality of line sec"- tions are presented for support of objects, and means to equalize the tension upon the withdrawn sections.

3. A clothesline holder including a hollow post, pulleys carried within the post and adapted to have the line passed thereabout to permit withdrawal and extension of the line to object-supporting position, means normally to hold the line operative position, the post having an opening adjacent its. upper end through which the line may be withdrawn and retracted, a cover ior the opening, means on the cover slidably to engage a the line whereby upon removal of the cover a plurality of line sections are presented for support of objects.

4. A clothes-line holder including a post, means carried by have the line passed thereabout'to`permit withdrawal and extension of the line to object-supporting position, means normally to hold the line in retracted inoperative position, a handle member adapted to have one 't portion of the line secured thereto, means on the handle slidably to engage another portion o'l the line whereby upon withdrawal of the handle a plurality ot line sections are presented for support o't objects, and means i to guide the line sections upon withdrawal and retraction.

5. A clothes-line holder including a post, pulleys carried by the post and adapted to have the line passed thereabout to permit withdrawal and extension of the line to object-supporting position, a handle member having eyes through which portions of the line are adapted to be secured whereby upon withdrawal off the handle sections are presented for support of objects, line-guiding elements horizontally and vertieally` carried by the post whereby upon withdrawal of the handle the line sections are guided substantially in spaced relation.

6. A clothes-line holder including a post, pulleys carried by the post and adapted to have the line passed thereabout to permit the line to present upon withdrawal a plu# rality of line-sections,'a1id a spreader movably mounted on said post and adaptedto be operatively positioned to engage the withdrawn line sections to holdv the same in spaced relation. j

7. A clothes-line holder including a post, post and adapted to have the line passed thereabout to permit the line to present upon withdrawal a plurality of line-sections` arms pivotally mounted on the post and oppositely extending in retracted inf:

plurality of portions of it the post and adapted to a plurality of line i Lit) therefrom, and menus on said arms adapted to engage the Whdrmvn line sections to hold the seme lr spaced relation.

8. A clothesline holder including e hollow post, upper and lower pulley members Carried in spaced relation within the post and adapted to have the line passed thereehout to permit Withdrawal :rnd extension of the line to object-supporting position, L cap for the post, a pvot element for the upper pulley member carried by the cap, the upper end of the post having' opposed slots to reeelve said pvot element when the oep s in seated position.

In Witness whereof, have hereunto set my hand this 15th day ot' December 1922,

CHARLIE L. KUBISTA. 

